Best and worst Netflix Christmas films from Rotten Tomatoes

One of the best things about Christmas is tuning into festive films that warm our hearts and bring joy to the family.

From the well-loved classics to the ‘so bad they’re good’ flicks, watching a Christmas film is a mainstay before, during and sometimes even after the big day.

But what are the best and worst Christmas films you can find on the popular streaming platform?

Best Christmas films on Netflix

Netflix has a mix of original films made for the service and classics that you will recognise, available to watch.

For this, we have picked the five highest and lowest rated Christmas films available on Netflix, according to Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Rotten Tomatoes is a popular review-aggregation website for movies and TV shows.

It gives out a ‘Tomatometer score’, which is the percentage of professional critics who gave a positive review.

There is also the ‘Popcornmeter’, which is the Audience Score.

1. Alien Xmas (2020)

Synopsis: “When a race of kleptomaniac aliens attempts to steal Earth’s gravity in order to more easily take everything on the planet, only the gift-giving spirit of Christmas and a small alien named X can save the world.”

Rating: 100% Tomatometer score

2. Klaus (2019)

Synopsis: “When Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.”

Rating: 96% Tomatometer score

3. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Synopsis: “Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on his doorstep.”

Rating: 91% Tomatometer score

4. Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery (2022)

Synopsis: “Senior Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) is back and this time, the case is critical. Along with his two celebrity guest stars, Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph, he is on a mission to figure out…who killed Santa?”

Rating: 91% Tomatometer score

5. Feast of the Seven Fishes (2019)

Synopsis: “The Oliverio family readies its Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian Christmas tradition stretching back to the old country.”

Rating: 88% Tomatometer score

While not in the top 5, the new Netflix film My Secret Santa, released this year, has a Tomatometer score of 77%, and is another good option for this year.

Worst Christmas films on Netflix

While there are many great Christmas films on Netflix, there are also lower-rated ones.

But some may wish to indulge in some of these to see if they are not only as bad as some say, but if, being a Christmas film, they can still be enjoyed.

Here are the five lowest-rated Christmas films available on Netflix in the UK according to Rotten Tomatoes scores.

1. The Holiday Calendar (2018)

Synopsis: “A photographer inherits an antique Advent calendar that seems to predict her future – including a budding romance.”

Rating: 33% Tomatometer score

2. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019)

Synopsis: “Amber and Richard host royals from a faraway kingdom to renew a sacred truce, but when the priceless treaty disappears, peace is put in jeopardy and an ancient curse threatens their family.”

Rating: 36% Tomatometer score

3. Our Little Secret (2024)

Synopsis: “Two resentful exes are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings.”

Rating: 37% Tomatometer score

4. The Merry Gentlemen (2024)

Synopsis: “To save her parents’ small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.”

Rating: 39% Tomatometer score

5. Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Synopsis: “Every Christmas, Jackie sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte and her family on Jackie’s snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, she seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s life can’t possibly be that perfect.”

Rating: 40% Tomatometer score